The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-08-25
DfSoBEYED THE ORDERS.
FOREMAN coUGHLlN RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE cHATsWoRTHgW WRECK.

The Coroner's jury Recommends That He
baBe Held for Examination by the Grand
Jary-Last Day of the Investigation
agent Mason Denies the Testimony Of
witnesses-Another Death.
>s' CHATswoRTH, Aug F.-The coroner's In
quest upon the victims Of the Chatsworth
horror was held Tuesday. Several witt
nesses testified to seeing a light on the rail-
road track at or near the scene of the disas-
ter on the afternoon and evening of Wednes-
day. The evidence showed that the orders
issued to Coughlin, the section boss, ON
Wednesday afternoon, We're not carried out,
and that his testimony at the inquest was UNI
true in some parts. Two witnesses before the
5coroner's jury fatty contradicted his testi-
mony at material points. Coughlin has all
along denied that he fired any grass or rub
bish within twenty rods Of the bridge a. Tues
DAVIS evidence fixes the distance at sixteen
feet Coughlin was instructed to exercise
extra care because heavy train would pass
over the road late that night In the face of
this he ordered James Head to fire the grass
and a pile of weeds within a rod of the cul-'
vert James Taggart, the other witness,
fired the grass within 100 feet
of the ? bridge and east : of lit
Both are young men, natives OF Illinois, and
of unusual intelligence for section men.
Taggart was particularly bright and positive
in his statements Herald swore positively
that he started a fire on the south side Of the
track within sixteen feet Of the west end OF
bridge He testified that the wind was blow
ing from the southwest. The wind blew dir
rectly from the grass or windrow OF dry
weeds toward the bridge. The witness swore
that everything was very dry. This young
mans evidence put Timothy Coughlin, the
section foreman, in a very deep hole. From
the testimony it appeared that Mr.. Coughlin
was exceedingly anxious not TO be given
away. He attempted to coach both wit
nesses, but failed. Taggart, however,
lodged the coroner's questions on this point,
but admitted that Coughlin had spoken to
him about the fire being near the county
line. Taggart also swore that Coughlin
wanted him to go to Peoria Tuesday morn
ing, but he refused pos itively. Mr.. Cough
lin testified also that one of the men exam
ined the bridge at $3.50 o'clock Wednesday
evening. Both witnesses contradicted him.
CHATswoRTH, Ills, Aug. 1S.-The inquest
was resumed at 1:So Wednesday afternoon
The first witness was s. NJ. Mason, station
agent and operator at Piper City. He said
that on Wednesday morning he received q
message addressed to all section foremen, in
structing them to go over their entire sec
tions and see that all bridges and track were
in good condition. This was to be done the
last thing at night before they went home
The order was signed by General Superin-
ten dent Armstrong. Mason said he went
over his yard that night, pulled each switch
lock, set all brakes on ide-tracked cars, and
was satisfied that all was in good shape. Ke
closed the depot at 8 o'clock and REFUSED at
9:S0 He then. asked over the
wire for information of the ex-
cursion train and learned Is was at Gridiey
then he went out and looked west on the
track, but saw no light He saw no fire
down the track Wednesday night, and de-
MED point blank the statements of Messrs
Jones and Clark, that they called his atter-
ton to light in the west .....--. =
As early as o'clock Thursday morning
the eoroner's Jury gathered at the school
house and resumed discussion of the testi-
mony regarding the catastrophe Therv, was
considerable diversity of opinion, sever al of
the number being DESTROYS of making tb YER
dict non-committaL They, however, finally
gave way to argument. The verdict says
that that tho bridge burnt out before the
train struck it; that the evidence shows con-
cusively that Section Foreman Coughlin dis
obeyed positive orders to inspect the track
and bridges; that he is guilty of gross Grim.
inal negligence in leaving Fl res burning along
the track, and recommends that he be held
for examination by the grand jury. In a
rider to the verdict. the jury expresses the
opinion that the leaving of the track for six
hours before the passage of the excursion
train, and the starting of fires by section men
on such day, were acts deserving severe
criticism. -. &c., ill.,. IL. - -: .
Timothy Cong ilin, the section foreman, was
arrested at noon, and will be taken to Pontiac
the county Seat of Livingstone county, at
once; he says he can not give bail and will
have to go to Jail. He insists that the verdict
was unjust; that he went over his entire Sec
ton as ordered, and that no fires were built
as neer the bridge as Heald and Taggert tes-
titled. ~